Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Ebb & Flow
‘It’s okay to be a bit dramatic’ If you did not know, you probably would not have guessed that the colourful, almost opulent lamps from Ebb & Flow originate in Denmark. Though elegant and simple, they do not have that purely minimalistic look many associate with Danish design, and indeed, the inspiration comes from across the sea – from the British willingness to be daring and different when it comes to design. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Ebb & Flow
Founded by Danish Susanne Nielsen in 2013, the design of Ebb & Flow’s beautifully shaped glass pendants and colourful fabric shades is inspired by the founder’s background in London’s fashion and interiors industry. “When it comes to fashion and design, the British culture is a bit more open-minded. In the Nordic countries we have a largely shared understanding of what good design should look like, whereas in the UK it’s okay to base what you like on individual preference. If you want colours in your home or want to dress a bit out there, then that’s cool too,” says Nielsen. “It’s an eccentricity that I really like, and which I apply 12 | Issue 110 | March 2018
to our designs: it’s okay to use rich fabrics like velour and to create something that’s a bit voluptuous and opulent, a bit dramatic.” Despite being comparatively unknown in Denmark, Ebb & Flow’s poetic lamps have struck a chord with other markets, including, perhaps unsurprisingly, the UK.
Light should make a difference After 16 years working in London’s fashion and interiors industry, Ebb & Flow’s founder returned to Denmark to start a new chapter. Initially throwing herself into her passion for vintage furniture, she
was soon inspired by the beautiful shapes of old glass items and began focussing on creating unique vintage glass lamps. In 2013, she set up Ebb & Flow and began working on the design and production of a collection of beautifully handmade glass lamps. Like the original vintage lamps, these lamps are not inspired by current design trends, but by colours and shapes. “I am not particularly influenced by trends; rather I am influenced by colours and shapes and how they work with glass and lighting,” stresses Nielsen. “My designs have to make a difference to the person who looks at them. Lighting is an everyday object that can make you feel either warm and welcome in a room, or not, as the case may be.”
Traditional craftsmanship Designed by Nielsen and produced by talented craftsmen and women in Poland, the glass pendants in Ebb & Flow’s collection are full of colour, patterns and artistic